Mar 20 Getting Messy: Simple Tricks To Keep Your Plants Alive

There’s no better way to welcome the first day of spring than filling your life with plants! If you’re anything like me you kill almost 100% of the plants you buy. Over time and countless trials and errors I’ve discovered tips that help me keep my cacti and succulents alive longer.

Always re-pot! Don’t leave your new plants in that yucky plastic container. A real pot will hold in all the moisture that your plant needs. So give your plant a real home that it can grow into.

Don’t overwater! Wait for the soil to dry up and then water thoroughly. I try to lightly cover the top layer of soil evenly with water and watch it soak in. It’s that easy!

Allow drainage! If there is a hole at the bottom of your pot then great, put a tray under it to allow the water to flow through. If there is no hole, add rocks to the bottom of the pot so the roots can stay elevated and don’t drown at the bottom.

Be aware of how dry/wet your area is. I live it the warm, dry California climate. In the summer I water my plants every week because the dry air soaks up all the moisture in my plants. In the winter I have to water every few weeks because the soil stays damp for a long time.

Sunlight is your friend! Succulents inside crave the sunlight, try placing them by windows with curtains so they get soft light. Unlike succulents, cacti need be in direct sunlight for parts of the day, try opening the curtains so they can soak up the sun.

If you’re unsure where to start, watch this quick video on how to pot your new plants!